Carton tipping mechanism



y 1965 c. E. KERR 3,193,113

CARTON TIPPING MECHANISM Original Filed July 23, 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIE' 1 mvzn'ron cmuues E. KERR BY/QQAAA ATTORNEY y 1965 c. E. KERR 3,193,113

CARTON TIPPING MECHANISM Original Filed July 23, 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 II3 2A INVENTOR CHARLES E. KERR BY W ATTORNEY y 6, 1965 c. E. KERR 3,193,113

CARTON TIPPING MECHANISM Original Filed July 23, 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR 0 CHARLES E.KERR

av W 3: Mw wz ATTORNEY July 6, W65 c. E. KERR CARTON TIPPING MECHANISM Original Filed July 25. 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR CHARLES E.KERR

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ATTORNEY y 1965 c. E. KERR CARTON TIPPING MECHANISM Original Filed July 23. 1958 Twmw ATTORNEY y 1955 c. E. KERR 3,193,113

CARTON TIPPING MECHANISM Original Filed July 25, 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR CHARLES E. KERR ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,193,113 CARTON TKPPING MECHANESM Charles E. Kerr, St. Petershurg, Fla, assignor to FMQ Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Original application July 23, 1958, Ser. No. 750,42fi, now

Patent No. 3,016,807, dated Jan. 16, 1962. Divided and this application Mar. 31, 1961, Ser. No. 99,894

2 Claims. (Cl. 214---1) This invention relates to carton handling machines and more particularly to automatic machines for tipping cartons from their filling position on their sides to an upright position.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 750,420, filed July 23, 1958, and entitled Carton Handling Machine, now U.S. Patent No. 3,016,- 807.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved carton tipping mechanism for a carton handling machine.

Another object i to provide a carton tipping mechanism.

Another object is to provide a mechanism adapted to receive filled cartons each of which is lying on a lateral side thereof and to tip each carton to its right side up position and dispose the carton upon a suitable receiver such as a take-away conveyor.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan of a carton handling machine including the carton tipping mechanism of the invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are enlarged fragmentary elevations which, when assembled end to end, together form a side elevation of the carton handling machine of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are fragmentary sections which, when assembled end to end, together form a longitudinal, vertical section of the carton handling machine.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section of the carton tipping mechanism of the present invention, taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 2B.

FIG. 5 is a View similar to FIG. 4 showing the tipping mechanism in a different operating position.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are diagrammatic perspectives showing successive steps in the operation of the tipping mechanism of FIGS. 4 and 5.

The present invention is adaptable by dimensional modification, and possibly other minor re-design that does not constitute departure from the involved operational principles, to operate upon cartons of diiferent kinds. A typical example of the cartons that can be handled by a machine incorporating the principles of the present invention are the large cartons in which a number of small cartons, usually a dozen or a multiple of a dozen, are commonly enclosed for shipment and for sale in wholesale quantities, or in which a number of cans of milk, fruit, vegetables, pet food, or the like, are handled. Such cartons are characterized by a body portion of rectangular, tubular form, dimensioned to contain a number of cans, boxes or other packages, and a top flap and a bottom flap hinged along fold lines to the upper and lower edges, respectively, of each of the four walls of the body portion. These cartons, commonly called shipping cases, usually are constructed of heavy paperboard and are received from the manufacturer in a flattened, or folded condition with one end wall and one side wall in planar alignment with each other and superimposed upon the other side wall and the other end wall, respectively, which likewise are in planar alignment with each other. When so folded, the top and bottom closure flaps project from their respective side and end walls in planar alignment therewith.

The carton tipping mechanism of this invention is shown 3,l@3,il3 Patented July 6, 1965 and described herein as one of the operating components of a carton handling machine M (FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B) which is fully described in the aforesaid application Serial No. 750,420. It is to be understood, however, that the tipping mechanism of the invention is not restricted to use as a part of or in conjunction with any particular machine, or, for that matter with any machine, since it may be used in an operation Where cases are handled manually.

Described in general terms, the carton handling machine M includes a supply magazine A (FIGS. 1, 2A, and 3A) adapted to receive and store a number of cartons X in the above-described flat, folded condition and in superimposed relation. The cartons are withdrawn one at a time from the bottom of the stack within the magazine A with the aid of a presser mechanism B and a gate mechanism C (FIGS. 1 and 3A) that cooperate with a first conveyor D (FIGS. 1, 2A and 3A) to deliver the folded cartons successively to a second, or main conveyor E (FIGS. 1, 3A, 3B, 4 and 5). The two conveyors cooperate with each other in the operation of opening, or unfolding, each carton. This operation occurs at an opening station F adjacent the receiving end of the main conveyor E.

When unfolded, the carton is carried toward the rear of the machine by the conveyor E with the side walls of the carton disposed horizontally and the end walls vertically, one of the end walls being in the lead so that the longitudinal axis of the carton is parallel to its direction of advance. The closure flaps project laterally from the body of the carton, each still in planar alignment with its respective side or end wall, as the case might be. Each carton is propelled in this position, to and through a closure flap manipulating station G (FIGS. 1, 2B, and 33) where the four flaps at one side of the carton, say the side which is destined to become the bottom, are folded inward to, or nearly to, their closing position. Likewise at the manipulating stat-ion G, the vertically disposed end wall flaps at the opposite side of the carton are folded outward so that when the carton reaches a position of alignment with a case loading machine H (FIG. 1) the carton can, without interference from the flaps, be shifted laterally of the conveyor by a pusher mechanism (FIGS. 1 and 2B) to dispose the delivery chute of the case loader within the thus opened side of the carton. The loaded carton is returned to the conveyor E by the continued action of the case loader in pushing into the carton a charge of articles to be encased therein. The filled carton is then delivered to a tipping mechanism K (FIGS. 1, 2B, 3B, 4, and 5) of the present invention, which operates to tip the carton in a manner disposing it right side up and to place it upon a take-away conveyor L (FIGS. 1 and 5) or other means for disposing of the filled carton.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2A, 28, 3A, and 3B, all components of the carton handling machine M are mounted upon a frame 39 including two horizontally extending side bars 32 of rectangular cross section (FIGS. 1 and 2A) supported on legs 34 and held rigidly in spaced, parallel relation by transverse bars 36 (FIGS. 1, 3A and 3B), at least two of which preferably interconnect two opposed legs 34 at points somewhat below the level of the side bars 32 thus leaving between the side bars 32 suitable working clearance for certain operative parts of the machine including the upper runs of companion conveyor chains 211? which comprise the main conveyor E. An extension 38 of the frame 39 includes two channel members it? (FIGS. 28, 3B, and 4) secured to and projecting rearward from two of the transverse bars 36 (FIGS. 3A and 3B) and supported at their rear ends by a pedestal 42 (FIGS. 23 and 35) whose lower end is rigidly secured to afootplate44. h p

. 3 THE TRIPPING MECHANISM K Each chain 210 of the conveyor E is provided with a plurality of propellingfingers 244?, each of which is trans versely aligned with a companion finger 240 on the opposite chain 210. Each finger has a bar 242 projecting rearward therefrom, and the several fingers 248 are so spaced apart on their respective chains 218 that the distance between each finger and the trailing end of bar 242 of the preceding finger is substantially equal to the longitudinal dimension of one of the erected cartons. Thus, each finger 240 and the bar 242 of the preceding finger cooperate to define a carton receiving pocket as the'conveyor E within Whichan erected carton is intermittently propelled toward therear of the machine M. I I

-Parallel rails 230 (FIGS. 1, 213, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, and 7) 'and 230a (FIGS, 1 and 2B) slidably support the car tons as they progress through the opening station F and the flap-manipulating station G. The rail 23% extends clear to the end of the machine M, but the rail 23ila-is considerably shorter (see FIG. 2B), terminating at apoint that causes each carton to slide olf the rear end of the rail 239a as the carton moves into the filling station in alignfilled, the carton is slidably supported adjacent the side which is destined to become the carton bottom upon the horizontal flange 236 of an angle bar 238(FIGS. l and 2B), which is lower than the rail upon which the opposite side of the carton slides. 'Thus the carton is in a tipped position substantially equivalent to that indicated in broken lines in FIG. 4.

The angle bar 238, whose flange 236 provides. sliding support for the lower part of the carton as it leaves the filling station, terminates in such a position that as the trailing end of the carton passes out of thefilling station, it

slides oif the end of the angle bar 238. To. provide slid able support for the lower side of the carton in lieu of the angle bar 238 as the carton enters the tipping station,

a relatively long and narrow plate 580 (FIGS. 4 and is mounted atone of its longer edges upona pair of sleeves 582 (FIGS. 21? and 5) that are rigidly secured to a longitudinally extending shaft 584 journalled upon one ofthe 7 angle members 48 ofthe frame extension 38. i V

V The plate 580 extends tangentially from its supporting sleeves 532 as, best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and is movable in rotary motion about the axis of the shaft 584 from a lower position wherein it extends longitudinally as a continuation of'the flange 236 of the angle bar 238, through an intermediate position wherein it slopes at an angle of approximately 45 outward and downward .With

respect to the conveyor E and toward the take-away conveyor L as shown in broken lines-in FIG. 5, and to a substantially vertical position, as shown in full lines in FIG. 5.

position, as illustrated in FIG. 4, on completion of each cycle of operation of the tipping mechanism K.

A pair of arms 524 are also secured to the sleeves 582,

. and since the sleeves are secured to the shaft 584, the

' arms 594'are thus rigidly interconnected and retained in spaced, coplanar relation extending tangentiallyfrom the sleeves'582, as best illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The

. angle between the plane of the arms 594 and that of the 586 and upon the rail 230 at the opposite side of the conveyor E, the arms 594 extend upward in position to engage/the bottom of the slightly tipped carton, as indicated in FIG. 4.-'

A vertically disposed push rod 596 having a horizontal cross bar 598 welded or otherwise rigidly secured to its upper end is mounted ,for longitudinal reciprocation in such position that the cross bar 598 is adapted to engage the undersurface of a'carton disposed in the above described, slightlytilted position resting simultaneously vso upon the plate580 and the rail 230 (FIG. 4). Near its upper end, the push rod 596 isguided by a bracket 600 rigidly secured to the upper horizontal flange 234 of one of the 'channel'members 40of the frame extension 33. The lowerend of the push rod 596 is secured to a yoke 602 (FIGS; 2B, 4 and 5) having a horizontal slot 604 therein and mounted for vertical reciprocation between a pair of peripherally grooved rollers 606, each ofwhieh is rotatable upon a pin 608 rigid with andextending from to the pedestal 42 thatrsupports the rear endof the frame extension 38. A spacing sleeve'612 is mounted upon each of the pins 608 thus holding the two, rollers 666m coplanar alignment in suitable spaced relation from .the support plate 610 so as to maintain the push rod 596 vertical.

Means are provided for vertically reciprocating the yoke 602 and the push rod 596. Such reciprocating means comprises a crank disk 614 having a crank pin v616 thereon which projects into the slot 604 of the yoke 662. The disk 614 is carried by a shaft 618 that is journalled in a suitable bearing 6 20 carried by the pedestal 42. On the opposite side of the pedestal42 from the crankdisk 614, the shaft '618 carries a pulley 622 that is freely-rotatable on the shaft 618 but which is adapted to be connected to, the shaft 618"by a single revolution clutch -624so that whenever the. clutch 624 is engaged the pulley 622 drives the shaft 618 through one complete revolution. The pulley 622 is connected by a belt 626 to a driving pulley 628.(FIGS. 2B and 3B) on the output shaft 630, of a motor and transmission 632. During operation of'the apparatus, the motor 632 is constantly energized so that the pulley '622 continues to rotate and thus is in readiness to' impart one full revolution'to the shaft 618 whenever the single revolution clutch 624 is engaged.

When the plate 580 is in its lower position, as illustrated;

in FIG. 4, it is inclined less steeply than when in its upper position so that when the plate 580 is lowered, its plane passes through or slightly above the rail 238 at the opposite side of the conveyor E. Thus, the portion of the'rail 230 adjacent the discharge end of the machine serves as the slide that supports the. higher side of the'carton as it enters the tipping station K.

A torsion spring 588 (FIG. 2B) encircling the shaft 584 is connected at one end to a collar 590 affixedto the shaft 584 and at the other end to one of the bearings 592 whereopposite direction so as to return the same to its lower Engagement of the clutch 624 is effected by means of an elongateclutch dog 634 which is pivoted intermediate its ends for rocking movement about a pin 636 carried by the pedestal 42. Since the single revolution clutch 624 is of conventional construction its structuraldetails need not be set forth herein and it will sufiice for the purposesof the present disclosure to explain that so long "as the lower end of the clutch dog 634 engages a shoulder 638 which constitutes a part of the clutch 624, the clutch; is prevented from completing driving connection between the pulley 622 and the, shaft 618 but when the clutch dog 634 is withdrawn from engagement with the shoulder 638 the shaft 618 and pulley 622 are interconnected,

but only for the time required for the shaft 618 to com- FIG; 5, but constantly urges the plate 580 to turn in the plete one full'turn;

A lever 640 (FIGS. 1, 2B, 4 and 5) is disposed between the two channel members 40 of, the frame extension in such position that a roller 642 of the upper end of the lever 640 is engaged by each carton just before the carton reaches the rear end of the conveyor E. The lower end of the lever 640 is rigidly secured to a shaft 644 that is rotatable within bearings 646 (FIGS. 4 and 5) each of which is secured to one of the channel members 40. The shaft 644 extends through one of the channel members 40 and carries upon its outboard end a crank arm 648 that isrigid with the shaft 644 and extends upward therefrom. The upper end of the crank arm 648 is connected by a link 650 to the upper end of the clutch dog 634. Consequently, when a carton engages the roller 642 at the upper end of the lever 640 and moves the lever to the right, as viewed in FIG. 2B, the clutch dog 634 is withdrawn from engagement with the shoulder 638 and the shaft 618 is caused to make one full revolution. This causes the crank pin 616 to move from its lowest position, as illustrated in FIG. 4, to its highest position illustrated in FIG. 5, and to return to its starting position because of its connection to the yoke 602. In this manner, the push rod 596 is propelled upward far enough to tip the carton from its slightly tilted position, illustrated in FIG. 6, to the position illustrated in FIG. 7, wherein the plate occupies the intermediate position shown in broken lines in FIG. 5, and wherein the center of gravity of the filled case has passed the vertical plane that includes the lowermost corner 652 (FIG. 7) of the carton with the result that gravity then causes the carton to complete a substantially 90 tipping movement so that it comes to rest in right side up position upon the takeaway conveyor L.

So that the plate 580 can cooperate with the push rod 596 in tipping the carton from the FIG. 6 position to that illustrated in FIG. 7, the rod 596 is connected to the plate 580 by a lever 654 (FIGS. 4 and 5) and a pushing finger 656 the lower end of which is pivoted to the lever 654 intermediate the ends of the latter. One end of the lever 654 is pivoted on a bracket 658 rigid with the outboard side of one of the channel members 40, which is provided with a suitable clearance opening (not shown) through which the lever 654 extends so that the bifurcated inboard end of the lever 654 can be engaged upon a pin 660 rigid with the push rod 596. The upper end of the pushing finger 656 is guided between the shaft 584 and the upper edge of the channel member 40 to which the bracket 658 is secured and bears against the under surface of the plate 580. Consequently, when the push rod 596 is raised the plate 580 is turned clockwise as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5 at a rate that maintains it substantially in planar alignment with the cross bar 598 at the upper end of the push rod 596. At the same time the arms 594 are similarly turned. When the center of gravity of the carton passes through the vertical plane that includes the lowermost corner 652, gravity causes the carton to continue its tipping movement so that it finally comes to rest upon the take-away conveyor L. However, descent of the carton onto the takeaway conveyor L is yieldably resisted by a dampener mechanism 662 which includes a cylinder 664 pivoted to its lower end upon a bracket 666 rigid with a support plate 668 projecting downward from the associated channel member 40. A piston (not shown) is reciprocable within the cylinder 664 and an orifice 670 of restricted size permits passage of air therethrough but at such a limited rate that movement of the piston within the cylinder 664 is resisted so that the piston cannot move rapidly within the cylinder. The piston rod 672 that moves with the piston extends through the upper end of the cylinder 664 and is connected by a suitable clevis 674 to one of the arms 594 at a point spaced radially from the axis of the shaft 584 so that the downward pivotal motion of the arm 594 caused by the downwardly tipping carton is resisted by the dampener 662. In this manner, the carton is caused to come to rest gently upon the take-away conveyor L.

In view of the fact that the only connection between the push rod 596 and the arms 594 includes the upstanding pusher finger 656 which is not connected to the plate 580 but merely makes abutting engagement with the under. side thereof, the push rod 596 can return to its lowest position without causing the arms 594 to return immediately to their upstanding position. Therefore, the carton can remain temporarily upon the conveyor L with the arms 594 still in engagement with the carton, the only requirements in this connection being that the carton should be removed in time to avoid interference with the return of the arms 594 to their upstanding position before the next succeeding carton is ready to be discharged.

While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described it will be understood that the apparatus is capable of modification and variation without departing from the principles of the invention and that the scope of the invention should be limited only by the scope and proper interpretation of the claims appended hereto.

The invention having thus been described, what is believed to be new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. A carton tipping mechanism comprising two slides mounted in spaced, parallel relation and with one slide higher than the other and projecting beyond the terminal end thereof a distance at least as great as the length of a carton to be tipped, means for advancing the carton along said slides, a shaft mounted parallel to and adjacent the lower one of said slides at the outboard side thereof, two arms projecting laterally from the shaft in planar alignment with each other and mounted for pivotal movement about the axis of the shaft, a plate mounted on the shaft for pivotal movement about said axis thereof between a lower position wherein it extends longitudinally from the terminal end of the lower of said slides as an extension thereof and wherein it slopes downward and laterally from the slides in a plane including said higher slide and an upper position wherein it slopes more steeply downward and laterally from the slides, an elevator reciprocably mounted with its upper end projecting between said higher slide and said plate in position to engage a carton supported on said higher slide and plate, means for simultaneously raising said elevator and turning said plate to said upper position thereof to tip the carton onto said arms, horizontal receiving means mounted adjacent said shaft in alignment with said arms, and means for damping movement of said arms as they pivot downward toward the receiving means to deposit the tipped carton gently thereon.

2. A carton tipping mechanism comprising two slides mounted in spaced, parallel relation and with one slide higher than the other and projecting beyond the terminal end thereof a distance at least as great as the length of a carton to be tipped, means for advancing the carton along said slides, a shaft mounted parallel to and adjacent the lower one of said slides at the outboard side thereof, two arms projecting laterally from the shaft in planar alignment with each other and mounted for pivotal movement about the axis of the shaft, a plate mounted on the shaft for pivotal movement about said axis thereof between a lower position wherein it extends longitudinally from the terminal end of the lower of said slides as an extension thereof and wherein it slopes downward and laterally from the conveyor in a plane including said higher slide and an upper position wherein it slopes more steeply downward and laterally from the conveyor, an elevator reciprocably mounted with its upper end projecting between said higher slide and said plate in position to engage a carton supported on said higher slide and plate, means for simultaneously raising said elevator and turning said plate to said upper position thereof to tip the carton onto said arms, means responsive to arrival of a carton in registry with said plate for controlling operation of said elevator raising and plate turning means, 853,707 I 5/;07 Margadant 74 -50 X horizontal receiving means mounted adjacent said shaft 2,016,535 10/35 Bog-aty; 7 in alignment with said arms,-and means for damping 2,238,764 4/41; Wolf, I Y movementof said arms as they pivot downward toward 2,248,657 7/41 Blondon .'214-308 the receiving means to deposit the tipped carton gently 5 2,520,253 8/50 Norris. Q thereon. 2,725,137 11/55 'Muddiman 198--33.4 2,954,863 10/60 Staples 19833.4 References Citedby the Examiner 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner. 30 3 11 0 74-50 10 MORRIS TEMIN, Examiner.

721,626 2/03 Wellman. 

2. A CARTON TIPPING MECHANISM COMPRISING TWO SLIDES MOUNTED IN SPACED, PARALLEL RELATION AND WITH ONE SLIDE HIGHER THAN THE OTHER AND PROJECTING BEYOND THE TERMINAL END THEREOF A DISTANCE AT LEAST AS GREAT AS THE LENGTH OF A CARTON TO BE TIPPED, MEANS FOR ADVANCING THE CARTON ALONG SAID SLIDES, A SHAFT MOUNTED PARALLEL TO AND ADJACENT THE LOWER ONE OF SAID SLIDES AT THE OUTBOARD SIDE THERE OF, TWO ARMS PROJECTING LATERALLY FORM THE SHAFT IN PLANAR ALIGNMENT WITH EACH OTHER AND MOUNTED FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT AXIS OF THE SHAFT, A PLATE MOUNTED ON THE SHAFT FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT SAID AXIS THEREOF BETWEEN A LOWER POSITION WHEREIN EXTENTS LONGITUDINALLY FROM THE TERMINAL END OF THE LOWER OF SAID SLIDES AS AN EXTENSION THEREOF AND WHEREIN IT SLOPES DOWNWARD AND LATERALLY FROM THE CONVEYOR IN A PLANE INCLUDING SAID HIGHER SLIDE AND AN UPPER POSITION WHEREIN ITS SLOOPS MORE 